A woman exhales vapour while using an e-cigarette outside an office building in downtown Vancouver on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017. (THE CANADIAN PRESS)
The British Columbia government has introduced a groundbreaking bill that aims to recover health care costs from vaping companies accused of misleading consumers. The province says the proposed law is the first of its kind in Canada and is designed to hold companies accountable for “deceptive practices” that harm public health.
Attorney General Niki Sharma made the announcement in Victoria, explaining that the law is based on successful legislation B.C. used to take legal action against tobacco and opioid manufacturers. “Some vaping companies have engaged in deceptive practices to boost their profits,” she said. “They’ve marketed their products as safe or even beneficial, often targeting young people, despite knowing that’s not true.”
Holding Companies Accountable
Sharma said B.C. is building on years of experience fighting major corporations in court. The province was the first in Canada to sue tobacco companies and recently secured a $3.6-billion share from a $32.5-billion national settlement. The funds will be paid out over 18 years.
“We are getting better, and we are winning,” Sharma said. “This sets us up for being able to take on these companies in court.”
She did not provide an estimate for how much B.C. could recover from future vaping-related lawsuits but said any funds would go into the province’s general revenue. “It’s all one pot of money that we use to provide services to British Columbians,” she said, adding that health care funding continues to grow.
Concerns About Youth Vaping
The province says vaping use is rising quickly, especially among youth, which could undo decades of progress in reducing smoking rates. Sharma warned that “B.C. risks losing a whole new generation to nicotine addiction.”
Health officials say vaping can lead to serious health problems, including respiratory issues and long-term addiction. Sharma noted that the health care system already feels the cost of treating these effects. “We know that vaping has been linked to an increase in respiratory illnesses, long-term addictions, and mental health impacts, especially on young people,” she said.
Education Minister Lisa Beare said the new legislation works alongside ongoing efforts to educate students about the risks of vaping and to encourage healthy choices.
Industry Responds and Health Canada Weighs In
The Canadian Vaping Association did not immediately comment on B.C.’s proposed law. However, the organization has previously said it supports “sensible regulations” that balance harm reduction for adults with youth protection and education.
The association maintains that vaping is one of the most effective tools for adults trying to quit smoking. According to its president, Sam Tam, the group shares Health Canada’s goal of reducing smoking rates to below five per cent by 2035.
Health Canada, however, warns that while switching completely from smoking to vaping is less harmful, vaping is “not harmless and not intended for young people.” The agency notes that nicotine can harm brain development, which continues through adolescence and into early adulthood.
In B.C., the legal age to purchase vaping products is 19, and retailers can only sell items containing nicotine, nicotine salts, or cannabis. Selling flavoured vapour products without nicotine remains illegal.
